So, I started labor. My contractions were more terrible than anything I've ever experienced. Devon's labor was slow, but it was bearable. I don't know what was going on. The contractions wouldn't get consistent, and the pain and blood scared me senseless. I couldn't cope. After it neared 24 hours of this, I decided to go with plan B, and we went to St. Luke.

I was right about making very little progress for all the pain of those 24 hours. I was at 4 cm. The pain was intense. The doctor on call was not rude, but not the warmest person, either. The nurse was fabulous. All the nurses were fabulous. No one gave me a hard time about my situation (switched to homebirth midwife, but had to leave because she believed I was looking for a free ride, and I was very offended... Got very sick, didn't find another prenatal caretaker, and ended up checking into the hospital without a regular doctor...)

I knew two things going to the hospital. First, that my uterus wasn't working well, and I'd need augmentation, or I'd be laboring in that excruciating pain for days on end. Second, that if I was augmented, the pain would be even more intense.

I was nearly in tears over my two options - to labor on endlessly in massive pain, or to get an epidural so when they started pitocin, I'd be able to manage.

I got the epidural. They did it the right way. It was nothing like my first epidural.

My uterus was stuck at 4 cm for a few more hours, and they introduced pitocin, and they increased it every half hour, after hearing the story of my first birth, and deciding that this was the best way to go.

I could still feel a lot going on, without the excruciating pain of the contractions. I'd felt nothing with my first epidural.

When I finally felt the pressure in my pelvis telling me the baby was engaged, I knew that the first epidural was wrong.

So, I pushed 45 minutes or something, the doctor (a very nice guy who was a resident) on call, did the perineal massage and that helped. I also got to watch with a big old mirror, and it was crazy but very satisfying.

I watched Trent emerge as I used the sensation of having to push, which I didn't have with my first one...

It was incredible. Only a skid mark, and one stitch.

The nurses were all fabulous. Even without a steady OB, and the problems that causes everyone... Nobody made that big a deal of the issue. I had my charts, and everything they really wanted to know, they could find there.

The best part is that there was nothing wrong with me or with Trent, and we went home shortly after 24 hours, since I don't do circumcision and we're healthy.

I'm home, now. I'm in some pain from some shots and bloodwork and the soreness from those 24 hours of hideous contractions.

Hope everyone's births are much smoother than mine, but that everyone is as whole and gifted with little angels like I was.

as for the epidural - i soooo know what you mean. my epi with my first elft me completely sensationless. this time, i could actually feel everything, but without the pain. very very different experiences.

I'm glad you were able to make the right decisions for yourself and your circumstances, and it sounds like you ended up with a much more satisfying birth experience. It's great the hospital staff was understanding and nice.